Trench digger



Dec. 12, 1944. M PRocToR ET AL TRENGH BIGGER Filed Nov. 4, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A 7' Tono/E Ys Filed Nov. 4, 1942 'MAUR/cf MAL/AM A. P/i'acrof 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNvENToRs P/e oc Tol? l ATTORNEYS Patented Dee. 12,-19414` 'ran lcir moana Maurice Proctor and William R. Proctor, Seattle, Wash.; laid William B. Proctor assigner to said Maurice Proctor Application November 4, 41942. Serial No. 464,484 flo claims. ('cl. s'i-ssi This invention relates to a trench digger and more particularly to a trench digger wherein the prime mover is a tractor of the type commonly employed with a bulldozer" mechanism.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a trench digging mechanism wherein the tractor pushes the trench digging means rather than pulling said trench digging means.

It is a further primary object of this invention to provide a trench disgingmeans pushed by a tractor and wherein the support for the digger embodies longitudinally extending frame means on each side of the tractor which are connected to the dead or non-rotatable axle of the tractor.

It is a further' objectof the invention to provide frame means extending at each side of the tractor and across the front of the tractor and which frame means support at the upper end ythereof a ditch digging means and which ditch digging means are supported at the bottom thereof by a longitudinally extending thrust member extending below and centrally of the tractor and connected at the other axle.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a tooth member having an upper concave surface which will direct dug material upwardly and in operative position relative to longitudinally extending sideblades which receive dirt from said tooth digger and discharge the material on the surface and remove from ythe dug trench.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a tooth member which is pushed to dig a trench and to provide relatively vertically adinstable dirt disposing blades which are movable vertically relative to said tooth-digging means. whereby the dirt disposing blades may .be operated on the surfaceof the ground regardless of the elevation at which the tooth-digger is opera ing.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a tapered tooth member whose sides are angularly disposed and which diverge upwardly so that as successive cuts are made in digging the ditch, there will be a packing action by reason of the tapered construction of the tooth member and the walls of the trench will become packed and provision is made to limit slides of the walls oi' the trench. v y

It is a further object to provide' a rearwardly tapering tooth member so there is both a cutting and packing action therefrom.

It is a further object of the invention to provide side blades operating not only to dispose of dirt dug from a trench by a toothmember, but

end portion with said dead which will further function to provide a smooth and packed surface adjacent the trench and also curve shoulders for the trench.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a digger mechanism which is pushed by a tractor and which digger mechanism has a member contacting the bottom surface of the trench and which member provides for limiting the cutting action of a tooth-digging member.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a trench digger vwhich may be pushed by a tractor so a trench may be dug by a plurality of successive cuts, each cut providing for deepening and widening of the trench.

It is a further object of the invention to provide trench digging equipment of a. character which will provide a suiilciently well-packed trench so that a tractor may be caused to take a number of successive trips longitudinally and on the shoulders of the trench, each trip providing for deepening and widening the trench and packing the walls thereof, so 'that sliding of the walls and shoulders of the trench is limited.

The above mentioned objects of this invention together with others inherent in the same are attained by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference numerals indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a device embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation thereof;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on broken line 4 4 of Fig. 1, with parts shown in elevation, and with the'digger mechanism in a lower position cutting a trench;

Fig. 5 is a View taken substantially on broken line 5 5 of Fig. 4, of the digger mechanism detached from the tractor, with a fragment of the dead axle of the tractor shown;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective viewof i the digger mechanism detached from the tractor;

' Fig. '7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on broken line 'I-'l of Fig. 5, and a portion of the surface ofthe ground is shown to better functionally illustrate the operation of the blade member;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view, similar to Fig. 7 and taken substantially on broken line 8--8 of Fig. 3: and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view transverse of a trench showing the type of trench which may be dug by the apparatus of this invention and the manner in which the dirt removed from the trench is disposed adjacent the trench.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the tractor indicated generally by I3 is of standard construction and is provided with members, as endless treads I ILdead axle I I, frame I2, and motor means for driving the endless treads I0.

Referring to Figs. l, 2, 3, 4, and 6, longitudinally extending frame means I4 are provided on each side of the tractor I3. Longitudinally extending frame means I5 are positioned at each side of the tractor and below the frame means I4. The rear end portion of each frame means I4 is provided with a yoke member I6 which is pivoted on the dead axle II. Bolt means I1 are provided to prevent displacement of the frame means I4 from the dead axle II. The other longitudinally extending frame means I5 on each side of the vehicle are also pivotally connected with the axle il. One way for accomplishing this and at the same time providing for minimum width of the apparatus is to pivotally support the frame means I5 from pivotvmeans I8 carried by the yoke member I6.

The frame means I4 on each side of the device connect with angularly and transversely extending frame means I9 which are in turn rigidly connected with a digging tooth member 20. This is preferably accomplished by the use of bolts (see Fig. 4) so that the tooth member 20 is readily detachable. The cross brace 3I is rigidly connected to and extends between members I9. Thus the members I4, I9, 3l, and the top of the tooth digging member are all rigidly secured together and are pivoted from the dead axle II of the tractor.

The frame means I5, which are below said frame means I4 and extend on each side of the vehicle, are pivotally connected at their rear end portions with the dead axle II through the yoke member I6 as previously explained and each forward end portion of a frame means I5 is pivotally connected by pivot means 2I with inwardly and laterally extending frame means 22 (see Figs. 4 and 5). These inwardly and laterally extending frame means 22 are rigidly secured respectively with angularly disposed blades 23. Telescoping members 24 and 25 interconnect frame means 22 and permit limited lateral movement of said members 22 and parts connected therewith for reasons explained in connection with the adjustment of the tooth 29 and the blades 23. Also, said members 24 and 25 substantially maintain the blades 23 on the respective sides of the vehicle in common horizontal planes. Each forward end portion of a frame means 22 is provided with a bracket 26. The forward end portion of a bracket 26 and the forward end portion of a frame means 22 are spaced (see Fig. 5) to provide an opening for the reception therein of the rear portion of a plate 21 carried by the tooth member 20. 'I'he openings between the brackets 26 and the frame means 22 provide substantially vertical openings on each side of the machine so that sliding vertical movement may obtain between the frame means 22 and blade 23 on one hand and the tooth member 20 and the rear portions of plates 21 carried on either side thereof.

The longitudinally extending frame means i4 and parts connected therewith are adjustably connected with the longitudinally extending frame means I5 and parts connected therewith. This may be accomplished by providing an eye member 28 rigid with the telescoping member 24. The link 29 pivotally connects with the eye member 28 and the link member 29 is provided with a plurality of holes 3U. A transversely extending frame means or cross brace 3| interconnects frame means I9 which are in turn carried by frame means i4. Two spaced eye members 32 provide a space for the reception therebetween of the link 29. Pin means 33 may be inserted through the eye members 32 and through one of the holes 30 of the link 29. In order to provide means which are controllable from the drivers seat for pulling the pin means 33, we have shown bell crank means 34 which will accomplish such purpose. The interconnecting link 35 which extends to a suitable location adjacent the drivers seat has been broken away in Fig. l. Thus by means of the link 29, the vertical spaced relation between the frame means I4 and parts connected therewith on one hand and the frame means I5 and parts connected therewith on the other hand may be determined and upward movement of either of said members will carry the other therewith and the predetermined spaced vertical relation maintained.

The thrust member 54 extends longitudinally and centrally of the vehicle and the rear end portion thereof is pivotally supported by a yoke member 5-5 on dead axle II. 'I'he forward end portion of said thrust member 54 is pivoted on shaft 56 fixed to the lower end portion of the tooth member 20. The thrust member 54 will operate within the limits of the dug trench.

As a means for raising and lowering the frame means I5 and parts connected therewith, we have a plate means 36 welded to frame means 22 on each side of the machine. These plate means 35 i each pivotally connects with a link member 31,

which may be in the nature of a pin or rod. Each link member 31 is slidably mounted in a block 33 and a nut means 39 prevents downward movement of the link member 31 as respects the block 38 but does not limit upward movement of the link member 31 as respects the block 33. Each block 38 is pivotally mounted in an arm 40. The arm 49 is pivotally mounted on pivot means 4| on the frame i2 of the vehicle. Hydraulic means 42 provide angular movement of the arm 40 about the pivot 4I and in turn upward and downward movement of the link member 31 and then in turn the frame means I4 and parts connected therewith as well as the frame means I5 and parts connected therewith.

In the event that it is desired to change the vertical spaced adjustment between the members I4 and parts connected therewith and the frame members I5 and parts connected therewith, the operator by operation of the bell crank 34 may pull the pin means 33. Then by upward movement of the frame member I5 and parts connected therewith (by hydraulic means 42), while the frame means I4 are stationary, relative movement of said frames I4 and I5 toward each other is accomplished.

Preferably a compression spring 43 is disposed on link member 31 to resiliently resist upward movement of the frames I4 and I5 and parts connected therewith and thus the hydraulic means 42 and arm 40 are isolated from jarring action caused when the tooth member 20 strikes a hard l obstacle and is urged upwardly thereby. Also,

when the hydraulic means 42 causes angular motion to the arm 40 in a direction to urge the frames I4 and I5 and parts connected therewith downwardly, the pressure of the hydraulic means 42 is resiliently applied through said spring 43.

The tooth member 20 is preferably formed oi two spaced side plates 21 which diverge both upe assess? wardly and rearwardly. The rearward divergence provides for a packing action of the trench during each cut, and the upward divergence of the side plates 2J provides for a further packing aotion whenever .a second and deeper cut is taken. Preferably the forward end portion 44 ofeach plate 21 extends forwardly of the arcuate or curved member 45 so that saidforward end portions 44 will function as cutting members. 'I'he concave or curved member 45 of the tooth 20 provides the lifting action to move material upwardly which has been cut in forming the trench.

Preferably, the nose portion of the tooth 2li is detachable by means of bolts, so that upon wear,I the nose portion 46 of the tooth member 20 may be replaced when desired.

A two way mold board 4l is secured to the curved member 45 and is positioned at an upper end portion of said curved member 45. Thus as dirt and material is rising on the curved member 45, such material will encounter the mold boards 41 and the material will be directed angularly and outwardly so that the same may be engaged and deflected by the blades 23.

The blades 23 are relatively adjustable as respects the tooth member 20 as previously ex plained. Each of the blades 23 is provided with a curved portion 48 which will contact a shoulder of the trench and provide a curvature thereto and pack 'the same by members 53 (Fig. 8). Such curvature removes loose material adjacent the edges of the trench and in View of such packing action by members 53, in practice little falling of the walls of the trench is encountered. Outwardly on each of said blades 23, we have provided a substantially horizontal portion 49 (see particularly Fig. 7) which contacts the surface of the ground adjacent the trench. Such portions 49 aid in maintaining the blades 23 in com-l mon horizontal planes and also such portions E9 tend to support the tooth member 20 at an adjusted vertical level. Thus when particularly hard objects or roots are encountered, the portions 49 will function as a bearing surface and the weight of the vehicle, with such portions 49 as a iuicrum, will resist downward movement of the tooth member 2|). Another function of said horizontal portions 49 is to provide a packing action of the material removed from. the trench at a'location adjacent the trench. The material which engages the blade 23 is removed from adjacent the "trench to a location as illustrated in Fig. 9 of the drawings.

A shoe or skid member 50 is adjustablyv connected, through hydraulic means 5I, with the tooth member 20 and functions to raise the tooth member 20 by pressure exerted at the location of digging of said tooth member.

'I'he hydraulic means 5I is provided-with operable lever means adjacent the operator of the vehicle. Preferably, the hydraulic means 5l and the hydraulic means 42 are interconnected with a common lever so that whenever the hydraulic means 42 functions to raise the frame 22 which in turn will tend to move the tooth member 20 upwardly, then the hydraulic means 5I will tendl to move the shoe or skid member 5U downwardly. Also, when the vhydraulic means 5| operates to move the shoe or skid member 50 upwardly, the hydraulic means 42 will tend to move the tooth vmember 20 downwardly. Thus after the device has been set to out at a predetermined level and V the tooth 20 Vbecomes fouled, the operator by one lever may cause downward pressure against the shoe 50 tending to lift the tooth member'20 and for the laying of cable Or y member 20 is lowered. preferred form of our invention, the 20 and side plates 2l will diverge r In the tooth vmember bothupwardly and outwardly for purposes previously explained. In the event that such form of tooth member 20 is used, the blades 23 in moving relative to said tooth member 20 will move outwardly as they move upwardly and said blades 23 will move inwardly as they move downwardly. In order to provide for the necessary inward and outward movement of the blades 23, the members I5 and 22 are pivotally connected by pivot means 2l, and also the two telescoping members 24 and 25 are provided. Also, the space between a bracket 26 and the forward end portion of a frame means 22 is sufilciently loose in t so that compensation is provided for the limited inward and outward movement of the blades 2t as they follow the upwardly diverging tooth member 2t.

In moving lower the tooth member 2@ at a level to provide the desired out. As the tooth member 2li is urged into the ground the shoe member 50 willv be raised by hydraulic means bi and the vehicle may be moved forwardly and the'tooth member 2li will take a cut which is determined by the operator according to terrain conditions. For the initial cut of a trench the blades 23 will be adjusted relative to the tooth 20 through the pin means 33 so that the tooth member 2d will dig the trench and the blades 23 will operate on the surface of the ground as previously explained and will deflect the dirt rising on the curved portion 45 of the tooth member 20. If substantial amount of trench is to be made having a relatively small depth, then preferably the mold board il is vertically adjusted bybolt means52 (see Fig. l). A plurality of vertically spaced openings are provided in the curved portion 45 of the tooth member 20 and the bolt means 52' may be selectively applied through openings at the desired level. In other words, if the adjustablevmold board 4l is lowered, this will provide for operations of the mold board to spread material at a lower level to the blades 23. However, in ordinary use where a number of cuts are taken to provide a trench of relatively shortl length, then it is desirable to the desired curved and packed shoulders to the trench. Also, the portions 49. of the blades 23 vmove and pack the surfaces of the ground adjacent the trench. Thus if a trench is being dug the like, a vehicle may ride on the4 shoulders of the trenchV while the cable or other means is being disposed in the bottom of the trench. After a trench has been dug to the desired depth and the pipe line, cable or the llike has been disposed in the trench, obviously the trenchV may be readily and rapidly s the vehicle from place to place the hydraulic means 42 are operated to lift the tooth illled by commonly used equipment such as bulldozers.

A particular advantage of the trench digging apparatus of this invention is that it may operate over uncleared land to dig a trench. At the present time ditch diggers, commonly employed, require that first a bulldozer or similar equipment be operated to get some sort of a roadway and then the ditch digger may operate behind the bulldozer. Also if the ditch is required through terrain where there are numbers of roots and the like, the present Iditch diggers are not practically operable under such conditions. With the present invention the tooth member cutting the ditch and the scraper plates or blades removing the dirt from the ditch can be made vsufllciently strong to operate and dig a ditch under conditions where bulldozers are now capable of operating. It is well known that bulldozers can operate under almost all conditions of the terrain. The thrust member 5I is connected to the tooth member 20 at the lower portion thereof and we have provided a member extending in the line of thrust and direct to the dead axle Il of the vehicle so extreme strength may be obtained.

bviously, changes may be made in the forms, dimensions, and arrangement of the parts of our invention, without departing from the principle thereof, the above setting forth only preferred forms of embodiment.

We claim:

f 1. A trench digger comprising a motor driven tractor having a fixed non-rotatable axle; longitudinally extending frame means on each side of said tractor, connected to said axle and extending forwardly thereof; laterally extending frame means positioned in advance of said tractor and interconnecting said longitudinally extending frame means; ditch digging means positioned in advance of said tractor and carried by said frame means; and a longitudinal thrust member extending below and centrallyof said tractor and connected at one end portion with said ditch digging means and at the other end portion with said axle.

2. A trench digger comprising a motor driven tractor having a fixed non-rotatable axle; longitudinally extending frame means on each side of said tractor, connected to said axle and extending forwardly thereof; laterally extending frame means positioned in advance of said tractor and interconnecting said longitudinally extending frame means; ditch digging means positioned in advance of said tractor and carried by said frame means, said ditch digging means comprising a tooth member having an upper concave surface and longitudinally extending side cutter plates, and laterally extending blades positioned to receive dirt and material discharging from said tooth member; and a longitudinal thrust member extending below and centrally of said tractor and connected at one end portion with said ditch digging means and at the other end portion with said axle.

3. A trench digger comprising a motor driven tractor having a fixed non-rotatable axle; longitudinally extending frame means on each side of said tractor, connected to said axle and extending forwardly thereof; laterally extending frame means positioned in advance of said tractor and interconnecting said longitudinallyv extending frame means; ditch digging means positioned in advance of said tractor and carried by said frame means, said ditch digging means comprising a tooth member for digging a trench, operating at the bottom of said trench, and vmoving dug material upwardly to the top of the trench, and vertically spaced laterally extending blades operating at the level of the top of the trench, positioned to receive dirt and material discharging from said tooth member, and to move said dirt laterally from said trench; and a longitudinal thrust member extending below and centrally of said tractor and connected at one end portion with said ditch digging means and at the other end portion with said axle.

4. A trench digger comprising a motor driven tractor; ditch digger supporting frame means extending forwardly of said tractor; and digger means supported by said frame in advance oi said tractor comprising a tapered tooth member having angularly rearwardly diverging side members operable at the bottom of a trench, and laterally extending blade members mounted for vertical movement on Said tooth member, each blade member having a longitudinally extending surface for slidingly engaging the surface of the ground adjacent the trench and an arcuate surface for providing a curved shoulder to the trench.

5. A trench digger comprising a motor driven tractor having a iixed non-rotatable axle; longitudinally extending frame means on each side of said tractor, connected to said axle and extending forwardly thereof; laterally extending and laterally adjustable frame means positioned in advance of said tractor and interconnecting said longitudinally extending frame means; and ditch digging means positioned in advance of said tractor and carried by said frame means, said ditch digging means comprising an angularly upwardly diverging tooth member having rearwardly angularly extending side plates, and laterally extending blade members mounted for vertical movement on said plates of said tooth positioned to receive dirt and material discharging from said tooth member, whereby outward movement of said blade members in following said side plates of said tooth member will cause lateral movement of said laterally extending and laterally adjustable frame means.

6. A trench digger comprising a motor driven tractor; ditch digger supporting frame means extending forwardly of said tractor; digger means supported by said frame means in advance of said tractor comprising a tooth digger member operable at the bottom of a trench and moving dirt upwardly, and side plate dirt disposing members operable at the surface level above the trench and moving dirt received from said tooth laterally at the surface level above the trench; and a supporting member connected with said tooth member, vertically adiustable with respect thereto, and movable into and out of engagement with the bottom surface of the trench rearwardly of said tooth, whereby relative movement of said supporting member toward and away from said tooth member adjusts, at the position of digging, the operative level of digging of said tooth member.

7. A trench digger comprising a motor driven tractor; ditch digger supporting frame means extending forwardly of vsaid tractor; and dissermeans supported in advance of said tractor comprising a trench digging member and surface smoothing and dirt disposing blade members, each blade member having an arcuate surface for providing a curved shoulder to the trench and a 2,864,657 horizontal portion engaging and packing' the shoulders of the treno 8. A trench digger comprising a motor driven tractor having a xed non-rotatable axle; a rst digger supporting) frame means extending forwardly and transversely of said tractor and connected'with said axle; a second and vertically spaced digger supporting frame means extending forwardly and transversely of said tractor and connected with said axle; a digger member connected at an upper end portion with the upper of said supporting frame means and at a lower end portion with the lower of said supporting frame means; and a centrally disposed thrust member connected at one end portion with a lower portion of the digger member and at the other end portion with said axle'.

9. A trench digger comprising a motor driven tractor having a ilxed non-rotatable axle; a rst digger supporting frame means extending Iorwardly and transversely of said tractor and pivotally connected with said axle; a second and vertically spaced digger supporting frame means extending forwardly and transversely of said tractor and ,pivotally connected with said axle; a digger member connected at an upper end portion with the upper of said supporting frame means` and at a lower end portion with the lower of said supporting frame means; and a centrally disposed thrust member connected at one end portion with a lower portion of the digger member and at the other end portion pivotally with the said axle.

10. A trench digger comprising a. motor .driven tractor having a ixed non-rotatable axle; a first digger supporting frame means extending yiorwardly and transversely of said tractor and pivotally connected with said axle; a second and vertically spaced digger supporting frame means extending forwardly and transversely of said tractor and pivotally connected with said axle; a digger member connected at one end portion with said first mentioned supporting frame means and .slidably connected at the other end portion with said second mentioned supporting frame means, whereby said first. and said second mentioned frame means are relatively movable toward and away from each other; surface scraper means connected with said second mentioned frame means and movable therewith; and a centrally disposed thrust member connected at one end portion with a lower portion of said digger member a'nd at the other portion pivotally with the said axle. l

MAURICE PROCTOR. WILLIAM R. PROCTOR. 

